Comparison of Cocoa Beans from China, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

A survey on five kinds of cocoa beans from new cocoa planting countries was conducted to analyze each kind's basic quality. The average bean weight and butter content of Hainan cocoa beans were the lowest, at less than 1.1 g, and 39.

A new antibacterial denitroaristolochic acid from the tubers of Stephania succifera.

A new denitroaristolochic acid, demethylaristofolin C (1), together with six known alkaloids, crebanine N-oxide (2), (-)-sukhodianine-β-N-oxide (3), palmatine (4), corydalmine (5), dehydrocorydalmine (6), and corynoxidine (7), was isolated from the tubers of Stephania succifera. The structure of demethylaristofolin C was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR) and HR-ESI-MS analyses. These compounds exhibited antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S.

A novel degraded sesquiterpene from the fresh stem of Aquilaria sinensis.

A novel degraded sesquiterpene, named aquilarin B (1), together with two known compounds (2 and 3), was isolated from the EtOH extract of the fresh stem of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR (HMQC, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HMBC, and ROESY).

Aquilarin A, a new benzenoid derivative from the fresh stem of Aquilaria sinensis.

Chemical investigation of the EtOH extract of the fresh stem of Aquilaria sinensis collected in Hainan Province of China resulted in the isolation of a new benzenoid, named aquilarin A (1), together with two known compounds balanophonin (2) and (+)-lariciresinol (3). Their structures were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectral data. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 and SMMC-7721 cell lines.